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Re: phimosis

Written by Ralesk at 23 Jan 2004 01:30:20:

As an answer to: Re: phimosis written by IA at 22 Jan 2004 19:20:44:

>Something happened yesterday and I want to get your input on it. While my son was bathing, he started screaming. I came to the bathroom and he was crying saying that he didn't want it to get stuck again. I guess that while he was playing with it and retracting it, he was able to see the head. I don't think he retracted the foreskin past the glans but he retracted it far enough so he was able to see the head. I asked him what was wrong and he was crying and said he was frightened that the head would get hard and then stuck, so he pulled the foreskin foreward again.

That was to be expected.

>I told him that I know that the experience he went through (paraphimosis) was very painful and scary for him. I also reassured him that his foreskin is stretching and that's a good thing. I reminded him not to be afraid and just to retract and play as much as he wants as long as it's comfortable and not painful.

You're doing the right thing. He needs reassurance that things will work -- I can't say I'm anywhere sure that the trauma of the event will fade easily, but positive feedback, and comments that it's less and less and less likely to happen again as time goes may help a lot.

Here's hoping that he won't cling to his memories on the issue and that when it gets less tight (most likely soon), then he'll realise that it can't get stuck anymore.

If he would happen to do this again, make sure you comfort him just as you did now. That I'm sure is very well needed.

From this far, and not having had enough contact with children's mind and all, I cannot state whether it's a "dangerous" event.

My best-luck wishes to you two.


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